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Kelly grad, Texas 4000 team reach final destination

After 70 days and more than 4,600 miles traveled on the open road, Kelly High School grad and University of Texas senior Layla Nejad and her Texas 4000 cycling team have finally reached their goal in their fight against cancer.

“It’s such a bittersweet feeling to actually be finished with this journey that we’ve been working so hard for over the course of about two years now to prepare for,” Nejad said. “The reality that the 70-day bike ride is over hasn’t sunk in yet, but I know the fight will never be over for all 71 of us.”

Nejad, biochemistry major and pre-med honor student, acted as Travel Coordinator for the Ozarks group, which departed Austin on May 29 and arrived in Alaska on Aug. 2.

“The photo was taken when we left Beaver Creek in the Yukon Territory for Tok, Alaska, after being in Canada for 25 days,” Nejad said.

Nejad and her team set off through the Ozark Mountains and made their way north toward The Last Frontier, stopping at cities like St. Louis, Chicago, Madison, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, along the way. Nejad has raised $24,647 for the Texas 4000 cause.

“I’m proud to say that the 2015 team is the highest fundraising team in Texas 4000 history,” she said, “raising $711,432 to donate back to cancer research centers and support services in both the U.S. and Canada.”